Sunday, November 9, 2014

PRESS RELEASE

2nd International Conference
on “The Albanians in Montenegro”

THE ALBANIANS IN MONTENEGRO:

Minority vs.
Majority Politics

in an Era of
Democratic Transition

ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN,
NOVEMBER 1, 2014 – The 2ND International Conference on “The Albanians
in Montenegro” concluded today on the campus of Oakland University with a historic
presentation of scholarly research. Hosted
by the Department of Political Science and International Studies Program, along
with several Albanian-American associations, the event attracted students,
scholars, community leaders, business professionals and political elites from
across the United States and Europe.

This year’s conference brought together researchers in the fields
of academia, government and international law who joined forces to address the
recurring issues plaguing Albanians in Montenegro. From our outstanding keynote speakers, to the
large number of abstracts received, the 2014 Conference was a resounding
success. Building on the first conference
in NY, this event continues to provide scholars with the opportunity to present
issues plaguing Montenegro’s failed policies towards inclusion of the Albanian
minority.

The conference featured research on how Albanian communities in
Montenegro continue to be victimized by state policies aimed at forced assimilation
and emigration, limited access to education and employment, economic
underdevelopment, absence of decentralized government and various other
systemic programmes designed to stymie the Albanian language, culture and
heritage. The presenters successfully
demonstrated that many of the commitments aimed at protecting minorities have
come up short and not translated into law and policy. As a result, data confirmed that Albanians
fear that their place in a “union” with Europe will not improve their future
status, and a programme of “smoking mirrors” – to conceal the reality of
botched liberties and equal rights – will continue until the Albanian
population is a non-factor.

The conference featured two major works by professors Viktor N. Ivezaj
and Shinasi A. Rama, as well as a significant number of presentations from
speakers discussing a number of issues and problems associated with the
identity of Albanians, minority policies, and foreign influences and native
states.

After the welcoming speeches
by Professor Paul Kubicek and Professor Ivezaj, NYU professor Shinasi Rama
analyzed the evolution of the identity of Montenegrins, and by bringing forth
historical evidence, argued that Montenegrins are a complex ethnic group that
had two common elements, the fight against the Ottomans and the Orthodox religion. Rama argued that they were not an ethnic group, but instead were connected with the
idea of the state, and in the process of expansion of this state, and long
after independence, they never stopped their attempt to clear the
various minorities. Today, the Montenegrin state is trying to build a Montenegrin
nationality and ethnicity and making a great effort to assimilate others into the Montenegrin nationality. In the case of Albanians, who do not share with them religion, traditions, connection with the state, nor the language, Montenegrins have pursued a policy to divide and conquer, assimilation and the exclusion through immigration, etc. This has serious consequences for Albanians as a minority living in their own land.

Professor Viktor Ivezaj (WSU) introduced a dual-theory and argued
that ethnic discrimination in Montenegro exists as a product of “ethnic
polarization,” manufactured by the state, and not so much a result of ancient
hatreds. He contends that if ethnic
polarization is not reversed the Albanian minority in Montenegro will continue
to foster negative private preferences against the state that, when expressed
publicly, will catch Montenegro by surprise and have negative connotations for social,
political and economic development.

Dr. Nail Draga (Ulqin) offered a distinct analysis of Montenegro’s
census taken between 1948 and 2011. He
presented evidence that Montenegro’s official population numbers do not support
the actual structure of the population, pointing towards flaws in the
collection, analysis and reporting data.
Draga’s research suggested that the methodology used by the census
office in Montenegro is aimed at diminishing the Albanian population to the
point where they are a non-factor.

Agata Biernat (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Turin Poland)
focused her research on the Malësia region and the politics of
local-self-governance, where she examined the contemporary methods of political
participation used by Albanians to influence the political system of Montenegro
to achieve their goal and restoring the Tuzi municipality.

Sabina Osmanovic (University of Shkodra) presented a survey study
she carried out in the Albanian-inhabited regions of Montenegro. Her study assessed how Albanians responded to
a series of survey questions related to (a) the promises Montenegro made just
preceding the referendum of 2006 and (b) their responses to how well Montenegro
fulfilled those promises eight years later in 2014. She concluded that
Albanians remain disenfranchised in all spheres of social, political and
economic society while feeling that Montenegro has reneged on its promises of a
better future.

Angjell Gojcaj (University of Shkodra) presented a contemporary
analysis of the sociopolitical discriminatory policies perpetuated by the
Montenegrin government. His study
focused on three stages of rights – the right to national symbols, right to
political representation in local level governance, and the right on
employment. Relying on international
legal statutes, monographs and reports, he justified the absence of equality of
treatment for individuals and groups belonging to ethnic Albanians.

Grid Rroji (CUNY) explored the effects of Albania’s lackluster
support for the rights of ethnic Albanians in Montenegro for regional security
and stability, and concluded that the deterioration of human rights situation
in Montenegro, coupled with Albania’s lack of support for ethnic Albanian
minorities in neighboring states represents a constant threat to the peaceful
future of Montenegro as well as regional security.

Paul Kubicek (OU) assessed the role of the EU in the minority
rights arena, with a particular focus on the status of ethnic Albanians in
Montenegro. He provided a list of priorities and suggestions, its engagement
with both the government and civil society, and compliance from Montenegro
authorities. He concluded that although
Montenegro seems to be adhering to minority rights on paper, there are
underlying issues related to minority rights that Montenegro must address
before it moves closer to EU integration.

Professor
Rama analyzed the role of the Albanian Diaspora from Montenegro and showed how
they influenced the US administration and other organizations. Rama pointed to the growing role of the
diaspora for conditioning the behavior of politicians and awareness of the
Albanian-American community, as well as the construction of facilities that are
working with the administration of the civil society to convey and clarify the
situation of Albanians in Montenegro.

Several Albanian-American Associations attended this year’s event,
including the Plavë-Guci Foundation, Albanian-American Association “Malësia e
Madhe” and the Albanian-American Association “Ana e Malit”. Supporters who were not able to attend but
contributed to the event were the Humanitarian Fund Malësia, Ded Gjon Luli
Foundation, the Dom Simon Filipaj
Foundation and the Albanian-American Association “Kraja”.

The 2014 Conference may be in the books, but the editorial staff
is working hard topublish a book that includes the research papers presented at this
conference. In addition, the organizing
committee is already getting ready for the 3rd international
conference in Montenegro in 2016. This
will mark Montenegro’s 10-year independence and the conference will continue
its objective of highlighting the sociopolitical issues that affect Albanians
one decade later. In fact, we have
already begun contacting our academic colleagues in Montenegro, United Kingdom,
Albania Kosova and the United States to ensure a successful transition in 2016.

The organizing committee would like to thank all of those who made
the 2014 conference a success, especially the scholars, Albanian-American
Associations and the Albanian-American Student Organization. We look forward to seeing you all in 2016!